Skip to main content
NUTRITION 2025 Main banner

Community and Public Health Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P02-106-25) Double Up Food Bucks Heartland: A Qualitative Analysis of a Bi-State Nutrition Incentive Program for SNAP Participants

Saturday, May 31, 2025
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board C-99

    Presenting Author(s)

  • HV

    Heather Valentine, MS, RD

    Research Associate
    University of Kansas Medical Center
    Kansas City, Kansas, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • CG

    Cheryl A. Gibson, PhD

    Professor
    University of Kansas Medical Center
    Kansas City, Kansas, United States

Disclosure(s):
Heather Valentine, MS, RD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) Heartland is a nutrition incentive program offered at participating farmers markets and grocery stores in Kansas and Missouri. The goal of DUFB is to increase affordability of and access to fresh fruits and vegetables for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients by providing a dollar-for-dollar match for produce. The objective of this study was to conduct a qualitative analysis of SNAP customers’ experience with the nutrition incentive program and impact of the program on eating habits and health.

Methods: SNAP customers provided their contact information during an intercept survey at selected DUFB Heartland locations and were later contacted for a follow-up interview. Semi-structured interviews were completed via phone, digitally recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted using qualitative software.

Results: Twenty-seven interviews were completed in 2022 and 2023. A majority of interview participants reported that they had been using the DUFB program for at least one year or longer. Most respondents reported that participating in DUFB had allowed them to purchase more fruits and vegetables and had helped them establish healthy eating habits. As a result, many participants felt their physical health had improved, and some also felt their mental health had improved. Interview participants also reported other benefits of participating in DUFB, including developing a sense of community by connecting with local vendors at farmers markets where DUFB is offered.

Conclusions: DUFB Heartland participants reported that the nutrition incentive had positively impacted their eating habits and health. Findings from interviews highlighted that nutrition incentive programs can be an important resource for SNAP households to purchase more fruits and vegetables and establish healthy eating habits.

Funding Sources: Funded in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture